Gerald Coetzee raring to go for the Proteas across all formats after 'a tough few months'
Image: AFP
Gerald Coetzee admits he suffered from 'FOMO' after missing the Proteas' World Test Championship Final success at Lord's and that he remains committed to playing all formats.
The 24-year-old fast bowler has been plagued by various injuries over the past two years, and is set to embark on his latest comeback to the national team during the upcoming T20I Tri-Series against hosts Zimbabwe and New Zealand starting on Monday in Harare.
Coetzee last played for Proteas back in November when he picked up 'a groin niggle" whilst bowling in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead.
Scans later revealed that the damage was greater than initially expected with Coetzee being ruled out of the remainder of the home international summer. He returned to play a single match for the Joburg Super Kings during the SA20 before a left hamstring strain curtailed his participation in South Africa's premier domestic competition.
There was renewed hope in February that Coetzee could return for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, but after experiencing tightness in his groin while completing his 10 overs at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria, the Proteas medical team ruled that the symptoms posed an increased risk of significant injury at a higher bowling load forcing the young tearaway to spend further time on the sidelines.
Coetzee's road to recovery has since involved playing four matches in the IPL for Gujarat Titans back in April and now five successive matches for Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket the past month.
The Proteas have already seen fellow injury-prone fast bowler Anrich Nortje opt out of Test cricket to preserve his fragile body for the white-ball formats, but Coetzee has adopted a philosophical approach and believes he still has plenty to offer in all formats of the game.
'I think what I do is for a living, being a fast bowler, I think I've come to understand what happens to us. And it has been a tough few months. But I'm not someone who stands out in that sense.
'I think if you look at the landscape of all the bowlers who bowl high 140s, you know, we all struggle with injuries occasionally. So it's been tough, but I understand the process. I understand what it requires,' Coetzee said.
'I love red ball cricket too much. And I also love one day cricket. I think T20 cricket is just what's most accessible to us. So that's usually when we get a chance to play something, it's been T20 cricket.
'But I love red ball cricket. All my goals I've set for myself are mostly red-ball cricket related. So I love it too much.'
The Proteas' WTC Final success over Australia at Lord's certainly fuelled Coetzee's desire to get back into the Test side.
'I think anyone with a very competitive nature, you know, there was definitely FOMO, but I couldn't stop watching. I was so happy when we won,' he said.
'It was long overdue. I was very happy. You know, me not being there, I did have FOMO naturally.'
Coetzee will most likely share the new-ball with fellow fast bowling returnee Nandre Burger, who has equally struggled with a lumbar stress fracture that limited his playing time for the Proteas.
Burger has also begun his comeback trail via the MLC and will be eager to show that he is also fully recovered.
The duo, of course, possess the X-factor of being able to bowl genuine quick which is a prize asset that needs to be treasured.
Coetzee feels that despite their recent injury setbacks, neither will be holding back when they get the opportunity to be unleashed in the T20I Tri-Series.
'I think both of our nature is not to ease into anything,' he said. 'No, I think we're excited, man. We love cricket.
'We love playing for our country. And whenever we get an opportunity, it doesn't matter who the opposition is, you go out there and try and do your best.
'Like it's tough physically to bowl fast, but I love it. I enjoy it. And I do trust my body to keep doing that.'
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